Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare condition characterized by the formation of intra-alveolar microHths (calcospherites). The pathogenesis of the micronodular calcifications is still unknown. In about 50% of cases, pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis occurs as an autosomal recessive hereditary lung disease (SosMAN et al. 1957). Most cases of microlithiasis are found in Turkey (Ucan et al. 1993). The disease usually occurs between 30 and 50 years of age, and pediatric cases are rare. In hereditary cases, there is slight female predominance. 

Fig. 26.21. A 37-year-old man with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis. Axial CT image shows miliary distributed calcified micronodules predominantly located in the middle and lower zones of both lungs. Also note the formation of small subpleural cysts and subpleural emphysema and the formation of the pathognomonic black subpleural line (white arrows)...

Korn MA, Schurawitzki H etal. (1992) Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis findings on high-resolution CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 158 981-982... 

Sosman MC, Dodd GD et al. (1957) The familial occurrence of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nud Med 77 947-1012... 

Ucan ES, Keyf Al et al. (1993) Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis review of Turkish reports. Thorax 48 171 173 Webb WR (2006) Thin-section CT of the secondary pulmonary lobule anatomy and the image—the 2004 Fleischner lecture. Radiology 239 322-338 Weibel ER (1979) Fleischner lecture. Looking into the lung what can it tell us AJR Am J Roentgenol 133 1021-1031... 

Gasparetto EL, Tazoniero P, Escuissato DL, et al. Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis presenting with crazy-paving pattern on high resolution CT. Br J Radiol 2004 77(923) 974- 6. 

Respiratory Bronchiolitis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease 341 Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonia 341 Lymphoid Interstitial Pneumonia 342 Acute Interstitial Pneumonia 342 Sarcoidosis 343 Miscellaneous Rare Forms of Interstitial Lung Disease of Unknown Etiology 345 Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis 345 Lymphangioleiomyomatosis 345 Eosinophilic Pneumonia 346 Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis 348 Pulmonary Microlithiasis 348... 

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